Taking Stock

Kirk Baird

Saturday, June 12, 2004 | 12:14 p.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

June 12 - 13, 2004

What: CineVegas Film Festival.

When: Through Saturday.

Where: Brenden Theatres Las Vegas 14.

Information: 992-7979 or cinevegas.com.

Dean Stockwell began his acting career as a boy in the 1940s.

Unlike most child actors, though, Stockwell continued to work in Hollywood far past puberty.

While his career since has resembled that of a roller coaster, the '80s and '90s were particularly fruitful for the 68-year-old actor.

Some memorable roles:

The psychotic drug addict Ben in David Lynch's dark take on heartland America, "Blue Velvet."

The mobster boss Tony "The Tiger" Russo in "Married to the Mob," a role that earned him an Oscar nomination.

And as the holographic "Observer" Al Calavicci in the cult sci-fi series "Quantum Leap," which ran on NBC from 1989 to 1993.

In honoring Stockwell with its inaugural Changed My Life Award, the CineVegas Film Festival chose to go further back in the actor's career: 1948's "The Boy With Green Hair."

The film, in which Stockwell plays the titular character, will be shown at 1 p.m. today at Brenden Theatres Las Vegas 14, followed by a Q&A with Stockwell.

While staying with friends in Monterey, Calif., Stockwell recently talked with the Las Vegas Sun:

Las Vegas Sun: The idea of the Changed My Life Award is how it affected those who saw the film. But did "The Boy With Green Hair" affect you?

Dean Stockwell: It did have a definite impact on me. I think I was 12, and I think it was '48 when it was made. For as long as I had been aware of the world, I was also aware of the war, the second World War, (and) the Holocaust and everything that had gone on. When I got this script and was told I would do this movie -- I didn't have any choice, I was under contract and that was the system at the time. But this one, when I read through it, realized it was an antiwar movie and was therefore something important and special. So I considered that (and) I took the job of of acting seriously with that content in mind. So, it was important to me as well.

Sun: So you saw it as beyond a simple role. You saw the context of the film and what it really was about?

DS: Exactly. And it definitely was an antiwar movie and the mood of the country was a little uncertain at the time. The far right wing in Hollywood had a blacklist -- this was before the McCarthy era -- and they put on the blacklist Joseph Losey, who directed it, (those) who produced it, and the writers and several other people. So they paid for making this antiwar movie. Joseph Losey left the United States and resumed his career in England and never came back. So we lost a very good filmmaker because of that.

Sun: What are your thoughts on the film now?

DS: I think the message will always remain with some potency. The way or the mode or the technique that was used to tell the story, which was a metaphorical thing as simple as hair turning green, had a touch of a surreal tone to it. That sort of caught people's attention.

I remember going back to the early '60s, I met some of the Beatles (and) Ringo Starr told me that that movie changed his life. A lot of people have told me that. And the strange thing is, and this repeats over and over again, a lot of people have said it had a real impact on their lives and it disturbed them. And I would ask them, "Do you remember why the kid's hair turned green?" And they never remembered that it was antiwar.

Sun: You've worked with some other top directors in Hollywood. Do you have a favorite?

DS: Not a favorite. There's a group that all have the same kind of creative quality. That would be Jonathan Demme, of course, Francis Coppola, Dennis Hopper and David Lynch, that group right there.

They place talent in roles knowing what they can expect from that talent and then they let the talent do it.

Sun: You're one of the few actors in Hollywood who made the transition from famous child actor to famous adult actor. How is it that you managed to make the transition?

DS: I just survived. I don't know. This can only be considered as good fortune. I haven't taken great care of my body ... I'm still standing on the right side of the grass and did manage to have a career. And now I have another career. I'm making art now. I'm going to have my first exhibition in September in Taos, New Mexico.

Sun: As a painter?

DS: I don't paint. I do collages and computer prints. And this show will have 42 pieces in it. So it's a lot of work and that's all that I've done in the last year. And you know, you don't just make some art and get a show, it's got to be good. It's not a show that's set up because my name is Dean Stockwell. That doesn't cut it in art.

Sun: Looking back at your career, what are some of your favorite films and favorite moments?

DS: Well, what comes to mind because Dennis is involved (in Cine Vegas) ... we did a film called "Blue Velvet" together and I'm very fond of that scene that we had together. It was the weirdest damn scene ... and the weirdest character that I've ever done, that's for sure.

I read the (script) and I could picture Dennis doing this role of Frank Booth. It was so extreme and out there, that when he came in contact with the character that I was going to do, Ben, I said to myself, "Well, Ben has got to be further out there than Frank." So, that's what I went for and I think I brought it off. But that's a favorite moment.

Sun: There's been talk over the years of a new "Quantum Leap" series. Is that going to happen?

DS: There's still a possibility that Sci Fi (Channel) and USA and Universal, all of these people that own it, of them doing a movie, maybe even a TV movie/backdoor pilot for a redux of it. I've heard that and if that happens next year I'd be very happy to do that.